Nebraska
Husker students collaborate to create businesses at 48-Hour Challenge
Twenty-three University of Nebraska–Lincoln students participated in the Center for Entrepreneurship’s 48-Hour Challenge Feb. 15-17. The event allows student teams of three to six to develop and pitch business ideas for the chance to win cash prizes.
“The 48-Hour Challenge is a unique opportunity for students to stretch themselves and find out how far they can go with a business idea in just a few days,” said Samantha Fairclough, associate director of the center and associate professor of practice in management. “Teams naturally form around compelling concepts, and students are pushed beyond their comfort zones to find data and potential customers to validate their product idea. Feedback from community mentors is a key part of the process, helping them refine their business models and fostering connections that extend beyond the event.”
The competition is open to students of any major at the university. Students represented the College of Business, College of Engineering, College of Journalism and Mass Communications and Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts.
The challenge winners, listed alphabetically by place with their year in school/graduation year, major(s) and hometown, are:
First place
Street Eats, a designated food truck park in Lincoln
- Jonathan Gerdes, senior, civil engineering, Lincoln
- Brennon Overbeek, senior, computer science, Lincoln
- Paige Perrone, May 2023 graduate, advertising and public relations, Papillion
- Mohanendra Siddha, graduate student, computer science, Visakhapatnam, India
- Kyran Thomas, senior, accounting, Lincoln
- Andrew Wellman, senior, accounting, Waco, Nebraska
Second place
FOODI, a platform that connects foodies to local restaurants
- Micah Fullinfaw, junior, emerging media arts, Omaha
- Shahd Khourshed, freshman, computer science, Lincoln
- Eddie Sicilia, senior, Clifton Builders management and marketing, Cancún, Mexico
- Braden Starck, junior, Clifton Builders management and finance, Edwardsville, Illinois
- Divyn Williams, senior, business administration, Omaha
- Maci Wilson, senior, computer science, Omaha
Third place
BitVoyage, an interest-based travel booking website equipped with artificial intelligence
- Alexah Fort, junior, emerging media arts, Sidney, Nebraska
- Benjamin Frasier, sophomore, computer science, Omaha
- Hannah Gish, sophomore, emerging media arts, Lincoln
“Participating in the 48-Hour Challenge showed me how my skills are compatible with those of other students,” said Micah Fullinfaw, a senior emerging media arts major from Omaha. “I learned how important it is to work with people of different backgrounds and skill sets.”
Fullinfaw pitched an idea for a smart pantry on the competition’s first day, then found five students to join his team.
“Over the two days, we constantly pivoted our idea until we landed on a new, solid business plan,” he said. “Restaurants would pay to be featured on an app called FOODI, and users would connect with each other over their pursuit of finding new restaurants.”
Competitors could leverage the expertise of entrepreneurs in person or via Zoom. Among the mentors was Emily Kist, a 2022 Husker alumna who works for Nelnet in St. Paul, Minnesota.
“Participating in new business startup competitions is so important for students because it teaches them how to navigate the framework of starting a new venture,” she said. “They get to practice things like customer discovery, market research, storytelling, building a pitch deck and more, which are the most essential steps to starting a company.”
Jonathan Gerdes, a senior civil engineering major from Lincoln, participated in the challenge to push his skills and create a viable business within a limited timeframe. He worked with Street Eats, an event production company that strategically gathers food trucks in a centralized location to offer amenities from entertainment to food and beverages.
“A significant amount of time was dedicated to understanding our customers and their problems,” Gerdes said. “This provided a greater likelihood of devising a viable and effective solution. Our cohesive strength was rooted in respect for individual competencies, facilitating a collaborative evaluation of all aspects of our business. This approach enabled us to reach a consensus, effectively addressing challenges and contributing to our success.”
The 48-Hour Challenge helps students prepare for the next competition in the Center for Entrepreneurship’s signature series: the 37th Annual New Venture Competition, April 16 and 18. Open to all undergraduate and graduate students at the university, the contest allows students to pitch their business ideas for the chance to win a share of $47,500 and an additional $25,000 from the Husker Venture Fund, which provides early-stage capital to Nebraskan startups.
The Center for Entrepreneurship is a hub for students of all majors who want to pursue their ideas for a business; own a franchise or take over their family business; or explore career options. Learn more.
Former University of Nebraska President Ted Carter tried to get a job at NU for a woman he later admitted he was having an “inappropriate relationship” with, according to a records request obtained Wednesday by Nebraska Public Media News.
Carter last month resigned from his position as Ohio State University president, which he held since January 2024, because of “an inappropriate relationship with someone seeking public resources to support her personal business.” Carter abruptly left for OSU after leading NU from 2020 to 2023.
Records made available by NU show that in April 2023, Carter requested the same woman, who has been identified as podcaster Krisanthe Vlachos, be considered for a position at the National Strategic Research Institute that operates for the NU system in Omaha. University leaders told Nebraska Public Media News last week that they would review internal records after the OSU report was published.
NU emails show Carter sent Vlachos’ resume to Rick Evans, executive director of the National Strategic Research Institute and a retired major general in the U.S. Air Force. Evans responded, saying “her skills are probably best aligned to the Contracts and Business Operations Coordinator position you approved us to hire.”
He went on to say the position would be based in Omaha, and thanked Carter for the tip. Carter responded that he believed Vlachos “is more than willing to relocate to Omaha.” It’s not known if Vlachos was ever considered for that job or any other one at NU.
Carter also forwarded Vlachos’ resume to a member of the University of Nebraska Foundation on May 10, 2023.
The next time there was email communication between Carter and Vlachos via the university email system was July 2023. It was a quick note from Carter saying, “Sorry to be out of touch for a bit.” He then gave his phone number, which was redacted.
The university said in a statement that it does not see the need for further review.
“The University of Nebraska has reviewed emails and other records potentially relevant to the report released by the Ohio State University earlier this month,” the statement said. “From this review, several emails were discovered and have been shared upon request from media. The university does not see need for further review at this time.”
Carter appeared to have first met Vlachos while at NU during a Veterans in Energy forum in Washington, D.C. in March 2023, the OSU report said. The report further details that while at OSU, Vlachos had “extraordinary access” to Carter, including at least 24 meetings with him and five trips together.
The report also said at least 14 OSU employees received direct requests from Carter to assist Vlachos. One employee who did help was Chris Kabourek, former NU chief financial officer and former NU interim president.
Kabourek had left NU for Ohio State in the fall of 2024. Kabourek resigned earlier this month and has since been hired as vice president and chief financial officer at West Virginia University.
The Lincoln Marathon will bring street closures, parking restrictions and increased activity to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s City Campus this weekend, with events culminating May 3.
Portions of campus will be included in the race route, including start and finish lines, and faculty and staff should expect delays due to runners and spectators.
Closures will begin as early as 10 p.m. May 1 on parts of 14th Street, with additional restrictions May 2-3. Impacts on the morning and afternoon of May 3 will be the most significant.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time and use alternate routes if coming to campus.
A detailed map and full list of closures is available from Parking and Transit Services.
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KEARNEY – Successful and aspiring entrepreneurs were recognized April 21 during the annual Light It Up awards ceremony at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Hosted by UNK’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Rural Development, the event celebrates the vision, innovation and hard work of entrepreneurs and advocates who are making a difference in Kearney and throughout greater Nebraska.
The following awards were presented during the ceremony at Discovery Hall:
Student Entrepreneur Award
Fallon Wells, Flourish Floral Company
The winner of UNK’s Big Idea business pitch competition, Fallon Wells graduates next month with a degree in interior and product design and a minor in entrepreneurship. She’s returning to her hometown of Central City, where she’ll own and operate a flower shop.
“What truly sets Fallon apart is her commitment to her community. By choosing to invest in and sustain a local business in her hometown, she is helping preserve an important community staple. Her work ensures continued access to a service that brings people together during meaningful moments,” her nomination stated.
Emerging Entrepreneur Award
Connor Streit, PolyPath Med
Connor Streit, founder of PolyPath Med, earned the Emerging Entrepreneur Award for his efforts to reduce medical waste. His business focuses on repurposing unused sterile plastic from operating rooms, diverting thousands of pounds from landfills.
Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award
Cody Lawson, 1to1 Technologies
Cody Lawson started his business as a teenager and has grown it into a multistate technology support and repair company known for its customer-focused approach and community involvement. The business has seven full-time employees and a new facility in Central City.
“Cody is our poster child for the entrepreneurial spirit,” his nomination stated. “He inspires others to take the leap and mentors those who attempt it.”
Entrepreneurship Advocate Award
Caleb Pollard, Valley County Economic Development/Ord Area Chamber of Commerce
Caleb Pollard serves as executive director of Valley County Economic Development, an organization formed through an interlocal agreement between the city of Ord, Valley County, Ord Area Chamber of Commerce and Greater Loup Valley Activities. Through coaching and regional partnerships, he has supported business growth across the area, helping generate millions in revenue and expand employment opportunities. An entrepreneur himself, Pollard co-founded Scratchtown Brewing Company in Ord.
“Caleb’s commitment to Ord and the Sandhills spans more than 25 years, beginning as a college student, returning after stints in Lincoln and Omaha, and planting deep roots with his family in 2008,” his nomination stated. “He draws an explicit parallel between his personal philosophy and community building: ‘I love to garden … you plant seeds with intention, and with a lot of patience and hard work, you hope that you reap a harvest. … We’re very intentional in taking a much longer view on how to build community.’”
Alumni Entrepreneur Award
Noah Young, The Shiloh Farm
A 2018 UNK graduate, Noah Young has built a large online following while promoting agriculture and homesteading education, reaching audiences worldwide. His Shiloh Farm social media accounts have more than 2 million followers on Instagram and TikTok, making him one of the most-viewed ag influencers.
“Everyone who has ever met him will tell you that his love for agriculture is real and that he really does want everyone to experience it,” his nomination stated. “I had the opportunity to travel with Noah this summer across many different states and was able to see the impact he has on people thousands of miles away.”
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